Memory – Irish in the American Civil Warhttps://irishamericancivilwar.com
Exploring Irish Emigration in the 19th Century United StatesWed, 23 May 2018 20:14:52 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.6https://irishamericancivilwar.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cropped-Family-90x90.jpgMemory – Irish in the American Civil Warhttps://irishamericancivilwar.com
3232133117992New Ballymote Monument to Irish of the American Civil Warhttps://irishamericancivilwar.com/2015/05/06/new-ballymote-monument-to-irish-of-the-american-civil-war/
Wed, 06 May 2015 16:56:07 +0000https://irishamericancivilwar.com/?p=8061Towards the end of April I received notification that a new monument dedicated to Irish soldiers of the American Civil War is being unveiled in Ballymote, Co. Sligo next weekend. This is a positive step in what has been, up to this point, extremely disappointing engagement in Ireland with the history and heritage of her...

Towards the end of April I received notification that a new monument dedicated to Irish soldiers of the American Civil War is being unveiled in Ballymote, Co. Sligo next weekend. This is a positive step in what has been, up to this point, extremely disappointing engagement in Ireland with the history and heritage of her diaspora. Hopefully following this move the Government will be inspired to make a small effort towards appropriately remembering the hundreds of thousands of Irish emigrants impacted by the war on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the conflict’s end. The Taoiseach has been invited to unveil the statue this coming Saturday, May 9th, in the presence of the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. More details on the event are contained within the Press Release below (where it is good to see my recent estimate of 200,000 Irish taking hold!).

The new Ballymote Monument

MONUMENT TO THE MEMORY OF IRISH SOLDIERS WHO SERVED AND DIED DURING THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR TO BE UNVEILED- PERRY

Fine Gael TD for Sligo/North Leitrim, John Perry, has today (Wednesday) announced that a new national monument dedicated to the honour and lasting memory of Irish emigrants and people of Irish heritage who served and died during the American Civil War, will be unveiled at Ballymote, Co. Sligo.

The ceremony is scheduled for Saturday May 9th, the 150th anniversary of the day that President Johnson officially declared a cessation of military actions, marking an end to the American Civil War. The proposed monument takes the form of a statue of a soldier on horseback upon a stone plinth. The monument will bear an inscription paying tribute to the many thousands of Irish who fought and died. The Memorial Site is located adjacent to Ireland’s National Monument to the 69th Regiment, and Brigadier General, Michael Corcoran. The official unveiling will be performed by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, TD. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 14.45.

Commenting on the project, Deputy Perry said that “The 150th Anniversary of the ending of the American Civil War is a suitable occasion to mark the Irish contribution to the United States at a significant point in its history.”

“When the American Civil War started, the recent Irish famine emigrants together with earlier emigrants of Irish heritage answered the call to arms. At least 200,000 Irish soldiers served in the armies of the North and the South; the significant majority of them serving in the Union Army.”

“With the unveiling of this new monument to commemorate the Irish contribution during the American Civil War, we enhance public understanding of the prominent contribution made by people that left Ireland and served in the War on both sides and we broaden our links to the wider Irish American community.”

“We shared with the citizens of the United States in one of its most painful periods. The bonds of heritage and shared history that join our two countries together run very deeply. In unveiling and dedicating a monument to recognise the Irish participation in the American Civil War, we remember all those brave Irish soldiers and the sacrifice they made in the interests of their adopted homeland.”

]]>8061Ireland Takes First Steps Towards Remembering Irish of the American Civil Warhttps://irishamericancivilwar.com/2014/11/10/ireland-takes-first-steps-towards-remembering-irish-of-the-american-civil-war/
Mon, 10 Nov 2014 19:21:06 +0000https://irishamericancivilwar.com/?p=7367In the past, I have been highly critical on this site of the Irish Government’s failure to recognise the huge number of Irish who participated in the American Civil War, and the impact the conflict had on Irish-America. Along with various others I have spent recent years trying to raise awareness at home of the...

]]>In the past, I have been highly critical on this site of the Irish Government’s failure to recognise the huge number of Irish who participated in the American Civil War, and the impact the conflict had on Irish-America. Along with various others I have spent recent years trying to raise awareness at home of the scale of Irish involvement, with the most recent manifestation being the #ForgottenIrish series on Twitter and Storify. In July I published a letter I sent to then Minister for Arts, Heritage & The Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan T.D., requesting that the Irish Government consider using the opportunity of the International Irish Famine Commemoration in New Orleans to mention these people. Having been critical, it is now appropriate that I congratulate Mr. Deenihan’s successor as Minister for Arts, Heritage & The Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys T.D., who in her New Orleans Address delivered at Tulane University, New Orleans, on Friday 7th November last made the following remarks:

American Civil War

I want to take the time as well this weekend to acknowledge, on behalf of the Irish Government, the enormous numbers of Irish emigrants who lost their lives in the American Civil War. It is estimated that between 170,000 and 200,000 Irish fought in that defining conflict of these independent United States. The vast majority of Irish combatants- probably more than 150,000- fought with the Union troops, with the Irish in the Confederate ranks possibly numbering 20,000. Many thousands of Irish lost their lives on both sides- in fact, the very first person to lose his life in the war was a Tipperary man, Daniel Hough. He was just 36 years old. Many other Irishmen would rise to the very highest ranks- individuals like Thomas Francis Meagher and Patrick Cleburne, whose reputations and legacies have echoed through the ages. But my thoughts this weekend are more with the tens of thousands of what have been termed the “forgotten Irish”, who lost their lives or loved ones on the battle fields of this great country and whose sacrifice history has too often overlooked. Men- and women too- who in many instances fled the Famine which tore Irish society apart, only to arrive into a war which was, incredibly, of comparable suffering and heartbreak.

Irish historians like Damien Shiels and David Gleeson deserve great credit for bringing these stories to Irish and American audiences. And often, it is only with the generosity of time lapsed- and so much water and bloodshed under the bridge- that a sacrifice of this scale can be properly appreciated and acknowledged. So it has proved with World War 1 in Ireland, which we are only now- in 2014, 100 years afterwards- coming to recognise fully the service of perhaps as many as 350,000 brave Irishmen. This year is also, of course, the 150th anniversary of 1864, the penultimate year of the American Civil War. I could not let the occasion pass this weekend without acknowledging the sacrifices and bravery of so many Irish who fought- and too many who lost their lives- in that great conflict.

The Minister has done these Irish emigrants a great service in remembering them in such a fashion, and I would like to thank her for it. Her full speech (which touches on a range of topics) can be read here. It was also gratifying to see that the Famine Symposium at Tulane included a lecture delivered by Dr. Terrence Fitzmorris on Irish involvement in the Civil War. The Minister’s speech is hopefully a first step in a process that will see the Irish Government acknowledge these men and women at home, just as they have sought to do with the Irish of World War One. Perhaps Ireland may yet see moves towards an appropriate remembrance of Irish involvement in the American Civil War prior to the end of the Sesquicentennial in 2015. As I head across the Atlantic to discuss Patrick Cleburne in Franklin, Tennessee, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of his death, it is heartening to think that we may have turned a corner in remembering these Forgotten Irish. Time will tell.

]]>7367Remembering the Reilly's at Cedar Creek- And How Ireland Forgetshttps://irishamericancivilwar.com/2014/10/19/remembering-the-reillys-at-cedar-creek-and-how-ireland-forgets/
Sun, 19 Oct 2014 17:13:22 +0000https://irishamericancivilwar.com/?p=7342Today marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Cedar Creek. That battle witnessed many terrible scenes, but there were surely few to match that experienced by Irish emigrant Charles Reilly, who went into the fight shoulder to shoulder with his young son. To remember their story I wrote a column which appeared today on...

]]>Today marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Cedar Creek. That battle witnessed many terrible scenes, but there were surely few to match that experienced by Irish emigrant Charles Reilly, who went into the fight shoulder to shoulder with his young son. To remember their story I wrote a column which appeared today on TheJournal.ie site, Ireland’s largest online newspaper. I also took the opportunity to discuss Ireland’s decision not to remember any of these emigrants during the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the conflict- despite the almost unparalleled number of Irish impacted. If you are interested in reading the piece you can check it out here.

]]>7342American Independence Day: Remembering How Ireland Forgetshttps://irishamericancivilwar.com/2014/07/04/american-independence-day-remembering-how-ireland-forgets/
https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2014/07/04/american-independence-day-remembering-how-ireland-forgets/#commentsFri, 04 Jul 2014 18:12:23 +0000https://irishamericancivilwar.com/?p=6989Today is the 4th July, Independence Day in the United States. Throughout the day there will undoubtedly be a number of Irish-American themed stories and soundbytes in Ireland, as is appropriate given our historic links with the United States. From my own perspective, it is also a day to reflect on just how much Ireland...

]]>Today is the 4th July, Independence Day in the United States. Throughout the day there will undoubtedly be a number of Irish-American themed stories and soundbytes in Ireland, as is appropriate given our historic links with the United States. From my own perspective, it is also a day to reflect on just how much Ireland as a nation chooses to neglect that relationship with her diaspora in America. This neglect in memory is becoming starker and starker when remembrance of the American Civil War is measured against the efforts being poured into our only other comparable experience of conflict- World War One. A mere 49 years separate these two events, the only in Irish history where 200,000 + Irishmen marched off to war.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny with President Barack Obama in The White House (Wikipedia)

With the 100th anniversary of the Great War on the horizon in August, many impressive new memorials have been erected around the country. Irish television and radio have adopted World War One as a major recurring theme, and Irish newspapers consistently return to the topic of personal experiences of the war. Irish Universities are running numerous conferences about the Irish experiences of the war (see examples at UCC, UCD, NUIG, TCD). As someone who is also involved in World War One research, I am delighted to see this program of events. However, the huge divergence in how both conflicts are remembered also tells us much about Ireland, and how we on the island view Irish history. By and large the Irish Government, Media and Educational institutions are overwhelmingly insular when it comes to the history of Ireland and the Irish. The stories of those who emigrated come an extremely poor second to the stories of those who stayed behind. As I have often highlighted on this blog, there is yet to be a single comparable event to those cited above for World War One which relates to the Irish experience of the American Civil War. This is despite the direct causal links that can be drawn between Ireland’s 19th century calamity- The Great Famine- and many Irishmen’s participation in the 1861-65 war.

As part of continuing efforts to see some recognition of the impact of the American Civil War on hundreds of thousands of Irish people, I wrote to the Irish Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan TD last April. I did so in his capacity as Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee. Despite our annual commemoration of the Famine, we rarely tie this event with the deaths of thousands of Irishmen in the 1860s, many of whom were in the United States as a direct result of that Famine. Having had a number of efforts to have the impact of the American Civil War on Irish people remembered and discussed fail over the course of the 150th, my purpose in writing to the Minister was to see if it would be possible for the State to formally acknowledge the scale of Irish involvement in the conflict as part of the upcoming International Famine Commemoration speech in New Orleans. If you are interested in seeing the letter I provide the full text below. In early June I received a response from Minister Deenihan (also below). The Minister’s reply was extremely gracious. In it he noted that he had consulted the Commemorations Unit of his Department on the topic of the Irish experience of the American Civil War, who advised him that any commemoration of Irish involvement should be primarily led by authorities in the United States. He also pointed out that due to the (very real) economic difficulties being experienced in Ireland at this time, there was no funding for anything such as a memorial to the Irish experience of the conflict.

I greatly appreciate that the Minister took the time to respond to my letter. I was interested to learn that the Irish Government’s position is that any remembrance of the Irish involvement in the Civil War should be driven by the United States. I admit to finding this position somewhat odd- for example Ireland is not taking the view that remembrance of the Irish in World War One should be driven by the British Government. Indeed I imagine such a position would be met with outrage in many quarters. I strongly believe it is Ireland’s responsibility to remember, acknowledge and explore the experiences of Irish people around the world; we should not be waiting for a call from other nations to engage with the history of our diaspora. Neither is it clear what approaches the Irish Government have made to the United States Government with respect to becoming involved in U.S. commemoration of the American Civil War, although it may be that there have been efforts in this direction. I also fully understand the Minister’s position that there is no available funding for a memorial. Again, this would be easier to accept if it were not for the significant financial efforts being made by the State with respect to World War One. I have been unable to locate figures for the Government budget with regard to World War One commemorations, but it is certainly higher than the budget of €0 that has thus far been allocated to the Irish of the American Civil War.

I will take the Minister’s advice and correspond with the U.S. Chargé d’affaires in the Irish embassy, on the basis that Ireland is keen to participate in U.S. led commemoration of the impact of the American Civil War on Irish emigrants. Although the Minister did not address the request to see Irish involvement acknowledged within the New Orleans Famine Commemoration speech, time will tell if that is something that will be highlighted at the event. I will keep readers of the blog updated on both these fronts. All in all- despite the Minister’s kind words- it seems likely that the policy of forgetting these Irish emigrants is set to continue.

LETTER TO MINISTER JIMMY DEENIHAN TD, DEPARTMENT OF ARTS, HERITAGE AND THE GAELTACHT

17th April 2014

Dear Minister Dennihan,

I am writing to you in your capacity as Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee. I was delighted to hear that this year’s commemorations will take place in Strokestown and New Orleans respectively. I wanted to request that consideration be given at either or both of these events to officially remember the Irish who were impacted by the American Civil War some 150 years ago. The 150th of this event runs from 2011-2015, but unfortunately as a nation we have yet to make any official statement with regard to the many Irish who lost their lives in this conflict- many thousands of whom were Famine emigrants.

You may not be aware that the American Civil War is the largest conflict in the Irish historical experience alongside World War One. At least 1.6 million Irish-born people lived in the United States in 1861, and some 200,000 fought in the war. Tens of thousands of these men died. Indeed it is likely that more men from what now constitutes the Republic of Ireland fought in the American Civil War than in World War One. Nor is it an event of the distant past; the last known Irish-born veteran was still alive in 1950. Despite this being one of the most seminal moments in the experience of the Irish diaspora, and the second great trauma in many Famine emigrants’ lives, we have yet to officially mark the anniversary in Ireland. We have no national memorial, we have held no commemorative events and had no conferences to discuss this war’s impact on Irish people.

My colleagues and I have made a number of attempts to highlight the scale of Irish participation over recent years, but unfortunately have largely failed. Our most recent effort to see these 200,000 Irishmen marked with a commemorative stamp in 2015 was unfortunately rejected by An Post, and seemingly with that the State’s last opportunity to acknowledge the devastating effect of this war on Irish emigrants 150 years ago has passed. It is my hope that perhaps the inclusion of an official reference to the anniversary of the conflict and its importance and impact on Irish emigrants might be considered as part of the Famine commemorations.

I am aware of your own deep personal interest in history- indeed when I wrote to politicians a number of years ago regarding the Irish Brigade flag in the Dáil I received the most encouraging response from you. I have dedicated much of my time over the past five years to remembering Irish people’s stories on my website www.irishamericancivilwar.com and elsewhere; prior to that I was fortunate to be one of the curatorial team who prepared the Soldiers & Chiefs exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland. I listened with great interest to your recent speech at the World War One Conference in UCC (an event at which I also spoke) and the importance of remembering that event. Thankfully the memory of World War One has been pulled back into the light, and is no longer a forgotten conflict in Ireland. It is my hope that we will at some juncture take the necessary steps to remember our other Great War, fought by our Famine emigrants 150 years ago. I had the good fortune to publish a book on the Irish experience of the American Civil War last year, and I enclose a copy of that for your interest.

]]>https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2014/07/04/american-independence-day-remembering-how-ireland-forgets/feed/106989Memorial Day: The Irish-American Dead of Cold Harbor National Cemeteryhttps://irishamericancivilwar.com/2014/05/25/memorial-day-the-irish-american-dead-of-cold-harbor-national-cemetery/
https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2014/05/25/memorial-day-the-irish-american-dead-of-cold-harbor-national-cemetery/#commentsSun, 25 May 2014 10:00:37 +0000https://irishamericancivilwar.com/?p=6724During my recent trip to the United States I visited a number of National Cemeteries, including Glendale, Fredericksburg, Antietam, Cold Harbor and Arlington. Many of the headstones in these cemeteries stand as testament to the extent of Irish and Irish-American involvement in the American Civil War. In each cemetery I photographed many graves where ‘Irish’...

]]>During my recent trip to the United States I visited a number of National Cemeteries, including Glendale, Fredericksburg, Antietam, Cold Harbor and Arlington. Many of the headstones in these cemeteries stand as testament to the extent of Irish and Irish-American involvement in the American Civil War. In each cemetery I photographed many graves where ‘Irish’ surnames were in evidence- a random sample based upon where I wandered. The numbers were staggering. Worse still these are only the small percentage lucky enough to be identified. Although we have largely forgotten these men in Ireland, thankfully they are well-remembered in the United States. To mark Memorial Day weekend in America, I am sharing the images from one of the smaller cemeteries- Cold Harbor.Behind every headstone lies a personal story- behind every cemetery an army of friends and relatives who mourned the loss of these men. Behind some is a tragic end to what many emigrants hoped would be a better life than the one they had left in Ireland.

I have not researched these men beyond their entries on Find A Grave, but if you have information on any of them please do share it in the comments section.

]]>https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2014/05/25/memorial-day-the-irish-american-dead-of-cold-harbor-national-cemetery/feed/116724Has Ireland Missed the Last Opportunity to Remember Her American Civil War Dead?https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2014/02/16/has-ireland-missed-the-last-opportunity-to-remember-her-american-civil-war-dead/
https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2014/02/16/has-ireland-missed-the-last-opportunity-to-remember-her-american-civil-war-dead/#commentsSun, 16 Feb 2014 12:53:19 +0000https://irishamericancivilwar.com/?p=6332Last year we had an appeal on the site asking readers to consider proposing Irish involvement in the American Civil War as an appropriate topic to be covered in An Post’s (the Irish postal service) 2015 stamp programme. A number of you did so. An Post were in touch last week to say that the...

]]>Last year we had an appeal on the site asking readers to consider proposing Irish involvement in the American Civil War as an appropriate topic to be covered in An Post’s (the Irish postal service) 2015 stamp programme. A number of you did so. An Post were in touch last week to say that the suggestion is not one that will be recognised. This is disappointing given that two of the criteria for selection are ‘anniversaries and commemorations of national and international importance’ and ‘contributions by Irish people to international affairs’ (see full list here).

I have written many times on this site about how I feel Ireland is largely ignoring the history of her emigrants, as typified by the lack of interest and recognition in the American Civil War. I am not going to go over those arguments again (if you are interested, they can be found here and here), but I must admit to becoming somewhat despondent about the continued neglect of this area, particularly given the failure of previous efforts to see it recognised.

A number of years ago, before the 150th anniversary commemorations of the American Civil War commenced, I wrote directly to the Arts & Culture spokespersons of all Ireland’s political parties. Highlighting the scale of Irish involvement, I suggested they might look into the potential of making the flag of the 69th New York Infantry more accessible to the public for the duration of the sesquicentennial. The flag, presented to the people of Ireland by President Kennedy in 1963, is currently held in the Irish parliament where it’s viewing is restricted. I received only one response, and nothing came of the suggestion. With the advent of the sesquicentennial I attempted to interest some of the national media in the huge Irish involvement in the events of 1861-65. Again no response could be garnered from newspapers such as The Irish Times and Irish Independent, although the Irish Examiner did run a piece on the Irish at Gettysburg last year, one of only a tiny number on the Irish in the American Civil War in the last three years. Another rare exception is thejournal.ie, which has carried two pieces (here and here) and RTE Radio 1’s History Show, which has covered a number of topics relating to Irish involvement. In general though, the lack of interest has been stark.

With the publication of my book on the Irish in the American Civil War in early 2013 I wrote to President Higgins, of whom I am a great admirer, to highlight the scale of Irish involvement and pass along a copy of the book. I had hoped it might provide a spark leading to some recognition of the Irish experience, but to date this has not proved to be the case.

President Michael D. Higgins (Image via Wikipedia)

I still believe that the main reason for a failure of Irish people to engage with this history results from a lack of knowledge regarding the true impact of this conflict on Irish emigrants. I know of no clearer example of this than the speech delivered by President Higgins at Faneuil Hall in Boston on 5th May 2012 to mark that year’s Famine Commemoration. Entitled ‘Reflecting on the Gorta Mór: the Great Famine of Ireland, Some narratives, their lessons and their legacy’. The President noted ‘That we are here today, of course, I remind myself, not only to commemorate the victims of the Great Irish Famine but also to celebrate the lives that those who emigrated, forged in this city from adversity, and their achievements in creating the enduring links between our two countries which live on today.’ The speech goes on to describe the experience of the Irish in Boston after their emigration, but throughout the extensive talk not even a passing reference was made to the American Civil War, a conflict in which thousands of Irish Famine emigrants who lived in Boston fought. This omission was all the more stark as Faneuil Hall itself witnessed large Irish meetings to support the war effort- indeed the venue where the President spoke had been used as a temporary barracks by the Irish 9th Massachusetts Infantry in 1861. A little more than a month after President Higgins spoke at Faneuil Hall marked the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gaines’ Mill, where the 9th Massachusetts suffered higher casualties than any other Union regiment- many of those who fell were Famine emigrants.

The failure of the State to engage with Irish participation in the American Civil War has had a major influence on the lack of activity surrounding this history in Ireland. However we may like to think otherwise, State funding plays a large role in driving historical engagement and even historical study- this can be seen with Ireland’s Decade of Centenaries, with many conferences and other events receiving financial assistance and support from Government. This failure in engagement has further repercussions; despite the fact that the American Civil War saw more Irishmen in uniform than any other conflict barring World War One, virtually no historians in Ireland study it. Although a number of U.S. historians work in this area, there remains a wealth of virtually untapped research potential (as evidenced by the ease with which the research that drives this blog can be carried out).

The correspondence from An Post was just the latest in a long line of disappointments with regard to recognition and engagement with this aspect of our history. The sesquicentennial of the American Civil War is beginning to wind down and all eyes are now on the anniversaries of World War One and the 1916 Rising. It seems that the opportunity for Ireland to do something to remember and examine the 170,000 Irish who fought and the hundreds of thousands more who were impacted by the American Civil War has passed. That in itself tells its own story about how Ireland engages with the history of its diaspora.

]]>https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2014/02/16/has-ireland-missed-the-last-opportunity-to-remember-her-american-civil-war-dead/feed/86332Civil War Memorial in Cattaraugus County, New York, Under Threathttps://irishamericancivilwar.com/2013/11/06/civil-war-memorial-in-cattaraugus-county-new-york-under-threat/
https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2013/11/06/civil-war-memorial-in-cattaraugus-county-new-york-under-threat/#commentsWed, 06 Nov 2013 20:35:38 +0000https://irishamericancivilwar.com/?p=6030Mark Dunkelman, historian of the 154th New York Infantry, has alerted me to disturbing news of plans to demolish a civil war memorial- the Cattaraugus County Historical and Memorial Building- and is seeking readers assistance in highlighting the issue. Mark has published extensively on the 154th New York, with his books covering everything from the...

]]>Mark Dunkelman, historian of the 154th New York Infantry, has alerted me to disturbing news of plans to demolish a civil war memorial- the Cattaraugus County Historical and Memorial Building- and is seeking readers assistance in highlighting the issue.

Mark has published extensively on the 154th New York, with his books covering everything from the compelling story of Amos Humiston to an analysis of the Esprit de Corps of a Civil War regiment. His works are far more than simple histories- his exceptional knowledge of the unit and it’s men has allowed him to explore the social aspect of the conflict in a compelling and often unique way. If you have not read any of his publications, I advise you to consider doing so, as they may get you thinking about the conflict in new ways. In the past, the survivors of the regiment which Mark has brought so vividly to life were also extremely keen to remember their comrades. In 1914, many veterans of the 154th were present in Little Valley as the Cattaraugus County Historical and Memorial Building was dedicated to stand in memory of those from the county who had served during the Civil War. A recent vote by the Cattaraugus County Legislature means that this Memorial Building will soon be demolished, destroying one of the county’s major monuments to the era. Mark is trying to raise awareness of this fact and is asking that others consider voicing their concern to Cattaraugus County Legislators.

Mark has described the building’s significance as follows:

On September 7, 1914, more than two hundred Civil War veterans gathered on Court Street in Little Valley to dedicate the Cattaraugus County Historical and Memorial Building. Among them were many veterans of the 154th New York, holding their 27th annual reunion in conjunction with the dedication. Joining the old soldiers was a large crowd of citizens. James S. Whipple gave the main address. He was the son of First Sergeant Henry F. Whipple of Co. H, 154th, who was captured at Gettysburg and died as a prisoner of war at Andersonville. Whipple opened his main address with these words: “One need only to observe the number of people who have assembled here to appreciate the fact that all of you consider this more than an ordinary occasion. The day, the purpose for which you are here should and will be long remembered.” And so Cattaraugus County’s most representative and significant Civil War monument was dedicated. The veterans meant for their memorial to stand for the ages.

Cattaraugus County Memorial and Historical Building at it’s Dedication in 1914 (Mark Dunkelman Collection)

The Cattaraugus County legislature voted to demolish the Historical and Memorial Building on 23rd October 2013. The building has been vacant since the county historical museum was moved from Little Valley to Machias some five years ago. The Olean Times Herald have reported on the planned demolition here. If you are interested in voicing concerns to the local legislators their official contact details are available on their website here. The letter that Mark has sent is as follows:

To the Legislators, Administrators, and People of Cattaraugus County, and the Descendants and Friends of Cattaraugus County’s Civil War Soldiers and Sailors:

Cattaraugus County is on the verge of making a big mistake. On October 23, 2013, the county legislators voted unanimously to use $125,000 in casino funds to demolish the Cattaraugus County Memorial and Historical Building and the adjacent Board of Elections building on Court Street in Little Valley.

Six days later, in an Olean Times Herald article about the planned demolition, County Public Works Commissioner Joseph Pillittere stated, “The county submitted a State Environmental Quality Review, which looks for any significant impacts to the area, including historical. The results showed that there were no significant findings from a historical standpoint.”

To the contrary, as its name implies, the Cattaraugus County Memorial and Historical Building has tremendous historical significance as the county’s most prominent and significant Civil War memorial. More than two hundred Civil War veterans and a large crowd of citizens were present on September 7, 1914, to dedicate the memorial. The building’s purpose was stated in a plaque above the entrance: “To the memory of its soldiers and sailors in the War of the Rebellion, this building is erected by Cattaraugus County.”

Almost a hundred years later, why does Cattaraugus County want to betray the memory of its Civil War soldiers and sailors by destroying their memorial?

In his statement, Mr. Pillittere observed that the building has been significantly altered since its construction, that it is functionally obsolete, and that it does not comply with the American Disabilities Act. But those conditions do not negate the fact that the building was dedicated as a Civil War memorial, and it will remain a Civil War memorial until the county destroys it.

Civil War veterans were a driving force behind the memorial. They announced plans for it at a gathering in Salamanca in October 1909. Two years later, in September 1911, the memorial’s cornerstone was laid.

At the 1914 dedication ceremony, James S. Whipple delivered the main address. He was the son of First Sergeant Henry F. Whipple of the 154th New York Volunteer Infantry, Cattaraugus County’s most representative Civil War regiment. The elder Whipple was captured at Gettysburg and died as a prisoner of war at Andersonville, Georgia. In his dedicatory oration, James Whipple stated, “We dedicate this structure with our hearts full of love and loyalty for our country, and wish it ever to stand, signifying the deathless patriotism of American soldiers and sailors and their loyalty to the Stars and Stripes.”

Why does Cattaraugus County want to spurn that loyalty and love and deny the patriotism of its Civil War soldiers and sailors by tearing down their memorial?

Some questions for Cattaraugus County legislators and administrators:

What does the county propose to do with the site when the memorial is razed?

Is the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation aware of the county’s decision? Has the county presented the State Environmental Quality Review to the NYS Office of Historic Preservation, as required?

Is any Federal funding or permitting involved in the memorial’s destruction or the re-use of the site? If so, has Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as amended been followed?

Why has the county neglected to maintain the memorial, in defiance of New York State General Municipal Law 77-A, “Construction and Maintenance of Memorial Building or Monument by county or city”?

Are county veterans’ groups—American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, Vietnam Veterans of America chapters—aware of the county’s decision? What do they think about the plan to destroy the Civil War memorial?

The 154th New York Infantry was not an Irish regiment, but should still be of interest to those who wish to explore the Irish experience, as it had number of Irishmen in it’s ranks. The most notable of these was Westmeath native (and later Brigadier-General) Colonel Patrick Henry Jones, who Mark wrote about on the site here. Other Irishmen from the 154th covered on Irish in the American Civil War include Co. Clare’s ‘Senior Citizen Soldier’, Private Barney McAvoy and Private Richard O’Neill from Limerick, who died as a results of wounds sustained at Chancellorsville. Mark has kindly given his permission to reproduce the details of all the Irishmen he has identified in the regiment, who are listed below:

Members of the 154th New York born in Ireland

William Bailey: Age 33 years. Enlisted August 22, 1862, at Westfield, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. E, September 24, 1862; wounded in foot, slight, in action May 2, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va.; mustered out May 26, 1865, at Chattanooga, Tenn.

Thomas K. Bambrick: Age 45 years. Enlisted August 22, 1862, at Portland, to serve three years; mustered in as corporal, Co. E, September 24, 1862; mustered out May 16, 1865, at Louisville, Ky.

Edward Behan: Age 26 years. Enlisted August 28, 1862, at Allegany, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. G, September 24, 1862; deserted September 26, 1862.

Edward Brown: Age 44 years. Enlisted August 30, 1862, at Olean, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. I, September 25, 1862; mustered out with company June 11, 1865, near Bladensburg, Md.

Thomas Chanley: Age 28 years. Enlisted at Kinderhook, to serve one year, and mustered in as private, Co. K, January 6, 1865; transferred to 102nd Infantry, June 9, 1865, while absent without leave.

Francis C. Clark: Age 31 years. Enlisted September 1, 1862, at Westfield, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. E, September 24, 1862; captured in action May 2, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va.; paroled May 14, 1863, at City Point, Va.; deserted June 18, 1863, from Convalescent Camp, Alexandria, Va.

Peter Colivan: Age 29 years. Enlisted August 30, 1862 at Olean, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. I, September 25, 1862; captured in action May 2, 1863 at Chancellorsville, Va.; paroled May 14, 1863 at City Point, Va.; promoted corporal April 30, 1865; mustered out with company June 11, 1865 near Bladensburg, Md.

Richard Corcoran: Age 31 years. Enlisted August 5, 1862, at Allegany, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. C, September 24, 1862; mustered out with company June 11, 1865, near Bladensburg, Md.

Robert Davis: Age 44 years. Enlisted July 24, 1862, at Mansfield, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. B, September 24, 1862; discharged for disability January 5, 1863, at Washington, D.C.

Patrick Dillon: Age 35 years. Enlisted August 8, 1862, at Allegany, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. G, September 24, 1862; died of consumption January 26, 1864, at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Central Park, N.Y.

James Donegan: Age 34 years. Enlisted August 30, 1862, at Olean, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. I, September 25, 1862; captured in action July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa.; died November 2, 1863, at Richmond, Va.

John Douglass: Age 21 years. Enlisted August 22, 1862, at Westfield, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. E, September 24, 1862; captured in action May 2, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va.; paroled May 14, 1863, at City Point, Va.; mustered out with company June 11, 1865, near Bladensburg, Md.

Hugh Erwin: Age 30 years. Enlisted August 28, 1862, at Charlotte, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. F, September 25, 1862; promoted corporal November 1, 1863; died of fever June 4, 1864, at corps hospital, Acworth, Ga.

Patrick Foley: Age 23 years. Enlisted August 30, 1862 at Persia, to serve three years; mustered in as corporal, Co. K, September 25, 1862; captured in action July 1, 1863 at Gettysburg, Md.; paroled September 16, 1864; mustered out with company June 11, 1865 near Bladensburg, Md.

Richard Foley: Age 21 years. Enlisted August 30, 1862 at Olean, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. I, September 25, 1862; wounded and captured in action May 2, 1863 at Chancellorsville, Va.; paroled May 14, 1863 at City Point, Va.; transferred to Veteran Reserve Corps March 14, 1865.

Patrick Garvey: Age 28 years. Enlisted August 28, 1862 at Ellicott, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. F, September 25, 1862; captured in action May 2, 1863 at Chancellorsville, Va.; paroled May 14, 1863 at City Point, Va.; wounded in thigh in action May 8, 1864 at Rocky Face Ridge, Ga.; wounded again slightly in hand June 28, 1864 near Dallas, Ga.; mustered out with company June 11, 1865 near Bladensburg, Md.

Patrick Griffin: Age 18 years. Enlisted August 30, 1862, at Portville, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. I, September 25, 1862; wounded in action July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa.; killed by guerillas October 2, 1864, at Fort Rosecrans, near Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Thomas Haffren: Age 21 years. Enlisted August 5, 1862 at Randolph, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. A, September 24, 1862; wounded severely in leg and captured in action July 1, 1863 at Gettysburg, Pa.; paroled, no date; killed in action June 15, 1864 at Lost Mountain, Ga.; buried in Section H, Grave #8878, Marietta National Cemetery.

Hugh Harper: Age 27 years. Enlisted August 27, 1862, at Charlotte, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. F, September 25, 1862; mustered out with company June 11, 1865, near Bladensburg, Md.

John Harper: Age 32 years. Enlisted August 28, 1862, at Charlotte, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. F, September 25, 1862; wounded slightly in action May 2, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va.; discharged July 8, 1864.

Thomas Harper Jr.: Age 22 years. Enlisted August 22, 1862, at Westfield, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. E, September 24, 1862; captured in action May 2, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va.; paroled May 14, 1863, at City Point, Va.; discharged for disability September 6, 1863, at Camp Convalescent, Va.

Samuel Hogg: Age 23 years. Enlisted August 15, 1862 at Great Valley, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. H, September 25, 1862; promoted corporal, no date; wounded in action November 24, 1863 at Chattanooga, Tenn.; promoted sergeant October 17, 1864; mustered out with company June 11, 1865 near Bladensburg, Md.

Andrew Hollister: Age 33 years. Enlisted August 23, 1862 at Portland, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. E, September 24, 1862; promoted corporal prior to February 29, 1864; wounded slightly in the face in action July 20, 1864 at Peach Tree Creek, Ga.; on detached service in division hospital at Savannah, Ga., September 25, 1864; no further record.

Patrick Henry Jones: Late major, 37th N.Y. Vols.; mustered in as colonel, 154th N.Y., October 8, 1862 at age 31; wounded in right hip and captured in action May 2, 1863 at Chancellorsville, Va.; paroled May 15, 1863 at United States Ford, Va.; injured in action May 8, 1864 at Rocky Face Ridge, Ga.; discharged May 19, 1865 for promotion to brigadier general.

Richard H. Kerr: Age 20 years. Enlisted July 30, 1862 at Franklinville, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. D, September 24, 1862; promoted corporal January 1, 1863; wounded slightly in the head by a shell and captured in action July 1, 1863 at Gettysburg, Pa.; paroled, no date; wounded in foot in action July 20, 1864 at Peach Tree Creek, Ga.; transferred to Co. A, 5th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps, June 12, 1865; mustered out July 5, 1865 at Burnside Barracks, Indianapolis, Ind.

William Lennon: Age 23 years. Enlisted August 30, 1862, at Olean, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. I, September 25, 1862; captured in action July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, pa.; paroled November 20, 1864; mustered out with company June 11, 1865, near Bladensburg, Md.

Barney McAvoy: Age 44 [sic] years. Enlisted August 4, 1862, at Olean, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. G, September 24, 1862; discharged for disability February 7, 1864, at Lookout Valley, Tenn.

Malcolm McKeig: Age 28 years. Enlisted August 22, 1862, at Westfield, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. E, September 24, 1862; mustered out June 23, 1865, at Elmira, N.Y.

Patrick McNamara: Age 40 years. Enlisted at Villanova, to serve three years, and mustered in as private, Co. B, May 12, 1864; mustered out June 9, 1865, at Elmira, N.Y., as McNara.

James McStay: Age 21 years. Enlisted July 26, 1862 at Franklinville, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. D, September 24, 1862; promoted corporal December 27, 1863; sergeant, November 1, 1864; mustered out with company June 11, 1865 near Bladensburg, Md.

Richard O’Neill: Age 40 years. Enlisted August 29, 1862, at Ellicott, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. F, September 25, 1862; wounded in scalp, slight, in action May 2, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va.; died of his wounds May 22, 1863, at hospital in Virginia.

Thomas Regan: Age 23 years. Enlisted August 16, 1862 at Allegany, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. G, September 24, 1862; wounded badly in the left lung in action May 8, 1864 at Rocky Face Ridge, Ga.; mustered out with company June 11, 1865 near Bladensburg, Md.

Michael Walsh: Age 38 years. Enlisted August 29, 1862 at Humphrey, to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. I, September 25, 1862; wounded and captured in action May 2, 1863 at Chancellorsville, Va.; paroled, no date; absent, in Elizabeth Hospital, Washington, D.C., since December 5, 1863, and at muster-out of company.

]]>https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2013/11/06/civil-war-memorial-in-cattaraugus-county-new-york-under-threat/feed/136030Worthy of Study? Worthy of Remembrance? The Irish Killed at the Washita and Wounded Kneehttps://irishamericancivilwar.com/2013/10/27/worthy-of-study-worthy-of-remembrance-the-irish-killed-at-the-washita-and-wounded-knee/
https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2013/10/27/worthy-of-study-worthy-of-remembrance-the-irish-killed-at-the-washita-and-wounded-knee/#commentsSun, 27 Oct 2013 22:54:46 +0000https://irishamericancivilwar.com/?p=5981I have been thinking quite a lot recently about the type of historic events we choose to explore (and in some cases commemorate). This was spurred by the recent laying of a wreath by the Irish President Michael D. Higgins to the memory of the San Patricios, the largely Irish group who deserted from the...

]]>I have been thinking quite a lot recently about the type of historic events we choose to explore (and in some cases commemorate). This was spurred by the recent laying of a wreath by the Irish President Michael D. Higgins to the memory of the San Patricios, the largely Irish group who deserted from the U.S. Army to fight with the Mexicans during the Mexican-American War.

The story of the San Patricios is a fascinating one and is certainly worthy of exploration. It has proven a popular topic in Ireland both in terms of memory and commemoration. In an Irish context, the San Patricios fit within a broader narrative of fighting for the side of ‘right’ against overwhelming odds, a popular theme in Irish memory. In contrast, as part of the force of the aggressors, the Irish in the U.S. military have received virtually no attention. Despite their being perceived as being on the ‘wrong’ side, I am nonetheless struck at how little time is spent pondering the lot of the vast majority of Irishmen who remained in U.S. uniform during the Mexican War. As emigrants during the era of the Great Famine, their experiences might be expected to be of interest, from a social history perspective if nothing else. Why were these Irishmen in uniform? What were their motivations for enlisting, and why did they stay?

Custer marching towards the Washita, 1868 (Library of Congress)

Little work is being carried out in Ireland on the hundreds of thousands of Irishmen who served in the U.S. military during the nineteenth century. Outside of the American Civil War many of these men were engaged in fighting either Mexico or Native Americans. Particularly in the case of the latter, this brings with it an element of shame in modern Irish memory. Irish participation in wars against Native Americans does not sit well within a broader narrative of Irish people struggling against oppression. To modern sensibilities it often seems incongruous that these Irish could be both victims (as in the case of Famine emigrants, for example) and aggressors. Of course, many of the Irish who served in the U.S. military in the nineteenth century were economic emigrants, who had little choice but to seek a new life in America and to earn a living as best they could.

Prisoners taken at the Washita, 1868 (Library of Congress)

It is my view that the Irish who served in the nineteenth century U.S. military are victims of the artificial break that exists in Irish history, where the stories of those who emigrated are no longer relevant. This has been overcome in certain circumstances (such as with the San Patricios) where later actions are seen to have a resonance with a wider Irish historical narrative. However, the Irishmen who charged into Black Kettle’s Camp on the Washita are disassociated from Irish history, and also from the wider reality that many were Famine emigrants.

Aftermath of the massacre at Wounded Knee (Library of Congress)

Today we look with horror at the way Native Americans were persecuted in the nineteenth century. Incidents such as the Wounded Knee massacre are rightly remembered as some of the darkest in American history. Should we study the Irishmen who served in the U.S. military at this time? Should we remember them? Some Irishmen in the Plains Wars do receive attention, notably those who died with Custer at the Little Big Horn in 1876. A previous post on this site has looked at the 25% of Fetterman’s annihilated force that were of Irish birth. There is no doubt that many of the Irish who fought in the U.S.-Mexican War, American Civil War and Native American Wars viewed themselves as racially superior to non-whites, views that we find difficult to understand today. However, this was not unusual for the period. It is probable that many men in units such as the San Patricios held similar views. The only way we can hope to gain a real picture of these Irish is to study them. Many were simply in search of a livelihood- some of those who died in the Powder River Country with Fetterman in 1866 had not been in the United States for long, finding themselves transposed from rural Ireland to the alien landscape of the Plains. Michael Regan, the 28-year-old former carpenter from Sligo, had been in the army only three months when he died at Wounded Knee in 1890.

Two of the most controversial engagements in which Irishmen were involved during the nineteenth century were the Battle of the Washita (sometimes referred to as the Washita Massacre) and the Wounded Knee Massacre. The battle at the Washita was fought on 27th November 1868 in what is now Oklahoma, while the Wounded Knee massacre occurred on 29th December 1890 in South Dakota. Although there is some debate regarding the casualties among women and children at the Washita, it is clear that at Wounded Knee many were hunted down and slaughtered. Four Irishmen died at each of these incidents. They may not be events which we wish to have as a focus of remembrance for the Irish in America, but if we want to gain a fuller understanding of Irish emigrant history and Irish nineteenth century history we need to study the Irish experience throughout this period.

Irishmen who died at the Washita River, Indian Territory, 27th November 1868

Private Charles Cuddy, Company B, 7th U.S. Cavalry

21-year-old, 5 feet 4 1/2 inches tall former moulder with blue eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. Enlisted in New York City on 16th August 1866. On his death he was due $26, but owed $5.26 for extra clothing, 78 cents for tobacco and 30 cents for rations. He was born in Co. Waterford. The report on his body said that a ‘ball entered about an inch above upper lip and a little to the left of nose, passed upwards and backwards and emerged behind and a little above left ear.’ (1)

Private John McClernan, Company E, 7th U. S. Cavalry

26-year-old, 5 feet 5 inches tall soldier with blue eyes, brown hair and a ruddy complexion. Enlisted in Philadelphia on 26th July 1866. On his death he was owed $8.10 in backpay and $17.05 in clothing not drawn. He owed 30 cents for his rations. He was born in Co. Derry. His body was not recovered. (2)

Corporal William Carrick, Company H, 7th U.S. Cavalry

32-year-old, 5 feet 6 inches tall former painter with blue eyes, brown hair and a ruddy complexion. Enlisted in New York on 26th September 1866. On his death he was owed $14 in backpay and $123.44 in clothing not drawn. He owed 30 cents for his rations. He was born in Co. Dublin. His body was found with a bullet hole in the right parietal, both feet cut off, throat cut and left arm broken. (3)

Private Thomas Downey, Company I, 7th U.S. Cavalry

40-year-old, 5 feet 8 inches tall former laborer with black eyes, black hair and a dark complexion. Enlisted in Troy on 3rd September 1866. No county of birth recorded. When found his body had an arrow in the stomach, his thorax was cut open, head cut off and right shoulder cut by a tomahawk. (4)

Irishmen who died at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota, 29th December 1890

Private Michael Regan, Company A, 7th U.S. Cavalry

28-year-old, 5 feet 8 inches tall former carpenter with blue eyes, brown hair and a sallow complexion. Enlisted in Brooklyn on 18th September 1890. Born in Co. Sligo. On his death he was owed $13.60 in backpay.

Private John Costello, Company B, 7th U.S. Cavalry

21 and a 1/2 year-old, 5 feet 7 1/2 inches tall former brass worker with brown eyes, black hair and a dark complexion. Enlisted in New York on 27th December 1887. Born in Co. Limerick. On his death he was owed $12.07 in backpay and $33.64 for clothing not drawn.

Private Pierce Cummings, Company I, 7th U.S. Cavalry

22-year-old, 5 feet 7 1/2 inches tall former laborer with blue eyes, red hair and a florid complexion. Enlisted in Chicago on 22nd April 1889. Born in Co. Waterford. On his death he was owed $24.95 for clothing not drawn.

Private Joseph Murphy, Company K, 7th U.S. Cavalry

25-year-old, 5 feet 9 inches tall former laborer with blue eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. Enlisted in New York on 15th December 1889. Born in Co. Roscommon. On his death he owed $2.40 for clothing drawn.

(1) Greene 2008:210; (2) Ibid.: (3) Ibid:174; (4) Ibid:175;

References & Further Reading

Greene, Jerome A. 2008. Washita: The U.S. Army and the Southern Cheyennes, 1867-1869

Johnson, Eric S. 2012. No Greater Calling: A Chronological Record of Sacrifice and Heroism During the Western Indian Wars, 1865-1898

]]>https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2013/10/27/worthy-of-study-worthy-of-remembrance-the-irish-killed-at-the-washita-and-wounded-knee/feed/215981'Today I am a Boy Again': A Civil War Veteran Faces an Image of His Pasthttps://irishamericancivilwar.com/2012/05/20/today-i-am-a-boy-again-a-civil-war-veteran-faces-an-image-of-his-past/
https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2012/05/20/today-i-am-a-boy-again-a-civil-war-veteran-faces-an-image-of-his-past/#commentsSun, 20 May 2012 17:05:43 +0000https://irishamericancivilwar.com/?p=4276To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1911, the ten-volume Photographic History of the Civil War was published. One of the photographs showed a group of Union reserves on picket-duty in c.1863, relaxing by reading, chatting and playing cards. It is surely one of the most evocative images of troops in...

]]>To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1911, the ten-volume Photographic History of the Civil War was published. One of the photographs showed a group of Union reserves on picket-duty in c.1863, relaxing by reading, chatting and playing cards. It is surely one of the most evocative images of troops in the field taken during the American Civil War. In 1910, 47 years after it was taken, one old veteran saw it for the first time and it brought him face to face with the ghosts of his past. (1)

As the publication of the Photographic History neared, William W. Silkworth was living in Long Branch, New Jersey. The veteran took an opportunity to view some of the photographs to be reproduced in the books, and was stunned to find one that showed his old unit- Company B of the 170th New York Infantry, Corcoran’s Irish Legion. Most poignant of all was the relationship he had with one of the men captured by the photographer. Seated in the middle of the composition was his younger brother George, with whom he had enlisted on 23rd August 1862. Not long after the photograph was taken, George became one of thousands of young men to lose his life at Petersburg. William described his realisation as follows:

In looking the pictures over, you cannot appreciate or understand fully my amazement and joy in discovering that one was my old Company B, 170th Regt. N.Y. Vol. Why, I could scarcely believe my own eyes, so wonderful was it, that after forty-seven years, this picture should come to me. But there they were, some of them looking right at me, who had been dead for forty-six years- and there was no getting away from the picture.

Today I am a boy again, living once more with the boys, the old army life. There were about twenty-five of us, school friends, who enlisted together, at Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

There right in the front of the picture sits my brother playing cards (You will note that he is left-handed. We laid him away in front of Petersburg). With him is John Vandewater, Geo. Thomas and Wash. Keating. There is Charlie Thomas and all the rest as large as life. With the exception of two, I have not seen any of the boys for thirty years.

Some younger eyes then mine, say that they can see a figure in the background with a flag. If so, it must be me for I was Color Sergeant.'(2)

The Photograph of Company B, 170th New York with the card-players in the foreground- George Silkworth, John Vandewater, George Thomas and Wash Keating. Click to enlarge. (Photographic History of the Civil War/National Archives)

For William the photograph was far more than just an image of a few nameless soldiers on picket duty; to him it represented memories of his brother and his friends from what must have seemed a lifetime ago. When he enlisted at Brooklyn in 1862 William had been 19, his younger brother George only 18. George was killed in the attempt to take Petersburg on 16th June, 1864- William was himself severely wounded only six days later, on 22nd June. It took him many months to recover- he was discharged for disability from Mower Hospital in Philadelphia on 8th June, 1865. (3)

What of George’s companions in the photograph? John Vandewater had been 22 when he enlisted in Brooklyn on the 3rd September 1862. John had become a corporal by the time he was killed in action at Hanover Junction, Virginia on 24th May, 1864. George Thomas was only 17 when he signed up on 13th August 1862, also in Brooklyn. He was wounded on the same day that his friend George Silkworth was killed but later returned to his company, eventually mustering out as a First Sergeant. The attack on Petersburg on 16th June was a dark day for the little card-playing party. It’s final member, Wash Keating, was also wounded during that fight. Having enlisted in Brooklyn on 22nd August aged 18, he was discharged on 29th June, 1865. (4)

Apart from the card-players, William Silkworth also mentioned Charlie Thomas, a man he clearly remembered well. Charlie had enlisted aged 18 on 20th August 1862. As with all the others he did so at Brooklyn. Charlie appears to have had a colourful career in the regiment, rising to the rank of corporal before being returned to the ranks, and afterwards gaining promotion to sergeant. He was reported missing in action following the disastrous battle of Ream’s Station on 25th August, 1864. Charlie did not make it through his time as a prisoner of war- he died of intermittent fever on 7th December, 1864, at Salisbury, North Carolina. (5)

As for William, he survived his younger brother by over 60 years, eventually passing away on 24th August, 1928 in Long Branch, New Jersey. Of the two card players who survived the war, George Thomas died on 4th September 1920, still making his home in Brooklyn. Wash Keating passed away in New York on 13th January, 1925. (6)

Those of us who look at the grainy black and white images of the American Civil War today often forget that many held an important place in the hearts of veterans in the years following the conflict. We often fall into the trap of reducing such photographs to the role of visual references, using them solely for purposes such as recreating landscapes or examining uniforms and equipment. By viewing them purely in the context of the period between 1861 and 1865 we fail to recognise their value and relevance to veterans who often lived well into the 20th century. It is hard to imagine the immediacy with which William Silkworth viewed this particular photograph in 1910. He must have struggled to contain his emotions as he looked into the faces of these young men, including his own brother- comrades whose lives had been destroyed by the war. Many thousands of veterans must have had similar poignant experiences as they increasingly encountered such images in print in the decades after 1865. Remembering that the men and women in these photographs remained real for their friends and families so long after the guns fell silent brings with it a new appreciation of the value of American Civil War images.